Farm Update 11th May, 2018

It is easier said than done.  Everything in a farm is like that.

a) To reverse the blades of windpump rotor we need to construct a bamboo tower upto that. It must be safe and comfortable to work on top of that stage. Subbu has asked his known person to visit the farm and give a quote. This is a season of temple festivals. They are busy.  Anyway we have to do this job to extrat more from the windpump.  (Refer my last post).

b) The sprinklers (3 Nos.) have been give to Valliyoor for welding the tripod stand. Subbu is yet to take delivery of the same.

c) Subbu was busy plucking the jasmine flowers morning. It will otherwise go waste. He has tied with some local small vendor. This time we have the electronic weighing machine and a notebook to note down the daily yield.

Vettiver at the farm.  One row is not enough. But it is surviving
in the hot Sun

d) I need to think a lot more about the windpump. Now that the water is secured, I am planning to do all possible things to increase the water output. That will amount to purchasing a new foot valve (plunger) which would cost estimated 16K

e) The vegetable plot where the sprinkler is being tried, is growing slow. I have hopes on this.

f). While on the visit to the farm, I was particular to inspect the vettiver that I asked Subbu to plant around the pond to prevent soil erosion. Earlier the vettiver was sown and got spread around the wind pump tower. This was attracting snakes and rabbits. It was destroyed. Some stalks were supposed to be replanted and watered daily. As expected that was not done, except for my compulsion.

g).  But whatever vettiver has been planted, was satisfactory. Not enough, but satisfying that the concept is good. Now If i need to deepen the pond further, I must employ manual labor and not JCB.

Fishes in the Farm

Subbu and Fishes

How about some fishes in the tank? I asked Subbu. He had already planned for it.  There is plenty of water in the rain water catchment tank.  It is likely it will stay for some time. The bottom of the tank is solid rock.

"How to bring the fishes?  "

"Shall I take a vehicle? ", asked fish eating Subbu.

"No.  don't, fishes can be brought in a 5 liter drinking water CAN."   You can buy one in the neighbour hood shop", I told - a staunch vegetarian myself.

Both of us have no idea, how fishlings are generally transported.  We guess, we should get small fishes or eggs from the owner.  He said he will consult his friend tomorrow on this.  We need around 2000 of them.

Meanwhile Subbu is busy mending the eastern bank of the pond which is lower level in height.  Similarly on the input channel also he is putting the extra cement pipe we have and sealing so that the fishes will not "escape" when more water comes into pond.  Good idea.  Two days of labor work.

View of the would-be fish tank. Now full with water. But it will come down  

Meanwhile I was exploring if we can plant some Vettiver to prevent soil erosion.  I spoke to P Vencent, a bank employee who promotes Vettiver from Coimbatore.

He said he will let me know in a couple of days. I hope to ship in some vettiver from him and plant them around.

He also advised to plant Pungan and Punnai treeds to covert an inert soil into one having organic matter.